The winners are Shahida Akhter Shorna, a young social worker who described as the “Malala of Bangladesh” by Norwegian Prime Minister Erna Solberg; Umme Tanzila Chowdhury Munia, an education activist; Aparna Ghosh, actor; Mabia Akhter Simanta, a weightlifter and Mahfuza Khatun, a swimmer; Supriti Dhar, a journalist, activist and the editor of Women Chapter; Anima Mukti Gomes, singer; Maliha M Quadir, entrepreneur and founding managing director of Shohoz.com; Wasfia Nazreen, a mountaineer, activist and social worker; Sonia Bashir Kabir, the Managing Director for Microsoft Bangladesh and Luva Nahid Choudhury, the Director General of Bengal Foundation.
The award giving ceremony of Anannya Shirshodosh 2015 was held at the Krishibid Institution Auditorium in the capital’s Farmgate area on September 3. The program started with performances of patriotic songs and group dance by Shadhona. After that, Tasmima Hossian, the Editor of Anannaya, announced the Anannya Shirshodosh 2015 awards one by one.
The award, which included a crest, a certificate and an Uttorio, were handed over among the recipients by Dr Dipu Moni, Professor Mhafuza Khanom and Khusi Kabir.
In her acceptance speech, Umme Tanzila Chowdhury said, “Most of the time impaired women are affected by various types of sexual assault. But we are not sincere about it. I request everybody to give us attention.”
Short documentaries on the awardees were screened at the program. Bhabnagar performed Saymon Zakaria's contemporary Bangla form of Charyageete (Charya song), while Anima Mukti Gomes also performed.
Anannya is a woman’s Bangali-language magazine published fortnightly in Bangladesh since 1987. The magazine has notably championed the role of women in Bangladesh society with its annual awards, which have been given since 1993.